The Nigeria Football Supporters’ Club is grooming trumpeters to join in cheering the Super Eagles to victory in their match against Greece in Bloemfontein on June 17.
The President of the club, Dr Rafiu Ladipo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Johannesburg on Tuesday that many of the club’s instrumentalists were stranded in Nigeria.
He said that the situation had compelled the club to recruit instrumentalists in South Africa.
“We will be there (Bloemfontein) in full force and we are not deterred by the challenges which many of our members are facing in getting their visas,” he said.
Ladipo said that only 22 members of the club arrived in South Africa in the first batch, forcing other club members not to take part in the cheering the Super Eagles in the match against Argentina.
“We have lost tickets worth over N1 million for the Argentina match as they remained with the South African High Commission which required them to process visas for our members.
“We are never discouraged, as we have been doing it for years and we won’t get distracted.
“By the grace of God, the Super Eagles will come out victorious. We will raise as many supporters as we can for them,” he said.
Ladipo stressed that that the club had always risen to them occasion when faced with such challenges.
“As citizens of the most populous country in Africa, we won’t get distracted,” he stated.
Bloemfontein is about five hours drive from Johannesburg where the Super Eagles played their first match against Argentina on June 12.
Nigeria needs a win over Greece to be in a better position to qualify for the next round of the 2010 World Cup.
The Super Eagles lost their first match 0-1 to Argentina.
(NAN)
